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This week is certainly a big one for releases, since it’s the last big push before the official start of the frenzied holiday buying season (kicking off this Friday with everyone’s favorite unofficial celebration of retail madness, Black Friday!). The week starts with the return of everyone’s favorite gorilla, Donkey Kong! In Donkey Kong Country Returns the classic platforming series takes a hardcore twist with more challenging levels and some new multiplayer elements (Diddy Kong has a jetpack now!). However, since the game is harder this time around, Nintendo has implemented the super guide function in this game (we play so you don’t have to) so those who have some trouble easing in to the game’s harder structure can bypass trouble areas.  However, though Donkey Kong Country Returns is certainly on the radar for Nintendo-philes, this Wednesday will undoubtedly go down as a national holiday of sorts for racing enthusiasts, as it sees the release of what is undoubtedly the most anticipated racing sim ever. That’s right; the much-delayed Gran Turismo 5 is finally coming out this week, and with beautiful visuals, immersive multiplayer modes, and the biggest garage in the series’ history, Gran Turismo 5 is poised to be one of the best racing games… ever If you want your gaming a little bit more violent, we’ve got you covered there as well! Splatterhouse is coming on Tuesday and will give players the chance to wield a variety of weapons, including a no-nonsense 2×4 to take care of enemies in the most savage way possible. Featuring plenty of blood, gore, and guts, this title won’t disappoint fans of over-the-top horror. Horror isn’t for everyone though, and if you are looking for more family-friendly fare, Raving Rabbids: A Twist in Time sees the Rayman franchise spin-off visiting important periods of history and causing plenty of mischief. Though this historical adventure is far from edutainment, there should be plenty of fun for both young and young-at-heart players. Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom also releases this week and features cooperation with an AI-controlled main character. Although the indirect control mechanism may take some getting used to, the game’s premise is not unlike Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and controlling a giant Majin to solve puzzles certainly sounds like a mechanic we can get behind. Rounding out this week’s releases are dancing sim Michael Jackson: The Experience for the Wii, PSP, and DS (the PS3/Xbox 360 versions were pushed back to next year) and the Wii port of Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 . Although these games aren’t exactly looking to set the world on fire, both of them serve a specific niche, and if you love Michael Jackson music or soccer games on the Wii, you’ve got some games to look out for! And that’s it for this week’s drop list. Check back next week for more! |